Apparatus for holding nursing bottles



Dec. 7, 1965 REA 3,222,020

APPARATUS FOR HOLDING NURSING BOTTLES Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR.

HAW/11v A, K54

United States Patent 3,222,020 APPARATUS FOR HOLDING NURSING BOTTLESHerman K. Rea, 73 Prescott Turn, Clark, NJ. Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No.350,310 Claims. (Cl. 248-106) This invention relates to an improved formof nursing bottle holder.

Prior art devices and those presently available possess manyobjectionable features and it is one of the objects of this invention toprovide a practical, simple and effective support of the kind referredto.

An examination of the devices and apparatus presently available showsthat they are cumbersome, not easy to set up and adjust and althoughportable not readily stored, frequently involve exposed nuts, screws,springs or sharp corners (all of which could be dangerous to theinfant), cannot be easily cleaned, and are comprised of a number orparts or, if not, cannot be readily positioned for their functionalpurposes. Further, some devices can be easily tipped over.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a nursing bottle holderwhich can be easily disassembled for storage, easily assembled,positioned and adjusted for holding the bottle in the desired position.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a device of thekind described which although of the knock down type eliminates the needfor screws, nuts, and springs, which avoids the use of sharp corners andwhich utilizes a minimum of parts.

Further objects of my invention are to provide such an apparatus whichcan be readily cleaned and while light in weight not easily tipped over.

Briefly, apparatus made according to my invention includes an assemblycomprising a pair of detachable L- shaped base members, each having asocket at one end of one of the legs. A pair of L-shaped bridge memberseach have legs tapered at their ends. One end of each member is receivedwithin the sockets of the base members. A bridge bushing receives theother ends of the bridge members in oppositely disposed cavities in thebridge bushing which is in the form of a sleeve. The bridge member isprovided with an opening through which an arm is slidably and rotatablymounted. Adjacent one end of the arm is supported a flexible clamprotatably mounted on the supporting arm. This clamp can receive andmaintain in position a bottle or dispenser.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of apparatus made according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the apparatus shown in FIG.1 and showing details of construction; and

FIG. 3 is a detail in section of part of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, the knock down frame for supporting the bottle ordispenser at practically any angle which can be readily adjusted,includes the base legs of L shape, preferably having a 60 degree anglebetween the legs. The base portions 11, 11 are preferably closed at thebottom end and the upstanding leg portions 12, 12 are provided with thesocket portions 13, 13 at their upper ends.

A pair of bridge members 14, 14 also of L shape and preferably having a90 degree angle between legs 15, 15 and 16, 16 have tapered ends 17, 18,18 and 20, the ends 17 and being received Within the sockets 13, 13. Ofcourse, the sockets and tapered ends could be reversed.

An arm and bridge bushing 18 is provided with recesses 19', 19' intowhich the tapered ends 18 and 18 are inserted. All of the abovedescribed elements provide the supporting frame.

An adjustable supporting arm 20 is slidably and rotatably mounted in abore or opening 21 extending through the bushing 18'. A resilient orflexible bottle holder 22 may be fixed or slidably and rotatablysupported on the supporting arm 20'. The inner surface 23 may becorrugated as shown to provide a good grapping action on the bottle.Being flexible the jaws of the bottle holder 22 may be moved away fromeach other to expand the opening to take different size bottles whetherglass or plastic, with plane or corrugated surfaces.

The members 10, 14 and 20 may be made of aluminum rod or tubing which islight in weight. The bridge bushing 18 and resilient clamp 22 may bemade of plastic material or rubber. All of the connections are frictionengagements permitting relative rotation of the parts but maintainingadjustment after the adjustment is made.

The adjustments that can be made are shown by the arrows on FIGURE 1.Bridge bushing 18 can be rotated about its horizontal axis to determinethe degree of tilt of the arm 20' and clamp 22 to determine the angle atwhich the bottle will be held. The arm 20' can be slidably adjustedtransversely of the bushing 18' to lower or raise the bottle supported,and the clamp 22 and arm 20' can be rotated relative to the bushing 18to provide any further adjustment desired. It will be noted that thebends between legs are rounded and there are no sharp corners in theapparatus.

Thus, apparatus described above and incorporating my invention ispractical, simple and effective and can be made to sell at a veryreasonable cost. This apparatus is not cumbersome, is easy to set up andadjust, and can be quickly disassembled and compactly stored. Iteliminates exposed nuts, screws, springs and sharp corners thuspreventing injury to individuals using or handling the apparatus, andavoiding sources of dust and dirt collection. The apparatus uses aminimum of parts, can be easily cleaned. It is stable in use, since theclamp can be positioned in such a way that a low center of gravity ofthe device and bottle results. This minimizes the possibility oftipping.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for holding a nursing bottle comprising a knock downsupporting frame including (a) a pair of detachable L-shaped basemembers, each having a socket at the end of one of the legs, (b) a pairof L-shaped bridge members, the ends of said bridge members beingtapered, one end of each bridge member being received within acooperating socket of a base member, (0) a bridge bushing havingcavities for receiving the other ends of said bridge members, saidbushing being rotatable with respect to said bridge members, (d) anadjustable supporting arm slidably and rotatably mounted in said bushingand mounted transversely of said bridge members, and (e) a flexiblebottle supporting clamp mounted adjacent one end of said supporting arm.

2. Apparatus for holding a nursing bottle comprising a knock downsupporting frame including (a) a pair of detachable L-shaped basemembers, (b) a pair of L- shaped bridge members, said bridge members andsaid base members having interfitting connecting ends, (c) a bridgebushing having recesses for receiving ends of said bridge members, saidbushing being rotatable with respect to said bridge members, ((1) anadjustable supporting arm slidably and rotatably mounted in said bushingand mounted transversely of said bridge members, and (e) a flexiblebottle suporting clamp mounted adjacent one end of said supporting arm.

3. Apparatus for holding a nursing bottle comprising a knock downsupporting frame including (a) a pair of detachable L-shaped basemembers, one of the legs of each L-shaped member being adapted to reston a supporting surface and the end of the other leg having a sockettherein, (b) a pair of L-shaped bridge members, the ends of said bridgemembers being tapered, one end of each bridge member being receivedwithin a cooperating socket of said base members, (c) a member havingmeans receiving the other ends of said bridge members, said memher beingrotatable with respect to said bridge members, and (d) an adjustablesupporting arm mounted in said member and mounted tranversely of saidbridge members, and an expansible supporting clamp mounted adjacent oneend of said supporting arm.

4. Apparatus for holding a nursing bottle comprising a knock downsupporting frame including (a) a pair of detachable L-shaped basemembers, one of the legs of each base member being adapted to rest on asupporting surface, (b) a pair of L-shaped bridge members, said basemembers and bridge members having detachable connecting means at endsthereof, (0) a bridge bushing having recesses for receiving ends of saidL-shaped bridge members, and forming therewith an upstanding U-shapedsupport inclined with respect to legs of said base members adapted torest on a supporting surface, said bridge bushing being rotatable withrespect to said bridge members, (d) an adjustable supporting armslidably and rotatably mounted in said bridge bushing and mountedtransversely of said bridge members, and (e) a flexible bottlesupporting clamp mounted adjacent one end of said supporting arm.

5. Apparatus for holding a nursing bottle comprising a knock downsupporting frame including (a) a pair of detachable L-shaped basemembers, (b) a pair of L-shaped bridge members, said base members andbridge members having detachable connecting means at ends thereof, (c) abridge bushing having cavities for receiving ends of said bridgemembers, said bushing being rotatable with respect to said bridgemembers, (d) an adjustable supporting arm slidably and rotatably mountedin said bushing and mounted transversely of said bridge members, and (e)an expansible bottle supporting clamp mounted adjacent one end of saidsupporting arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,855 6/1939Copell 248316 2,269,609 1/1942 Taylor 248--107 3,016,221 1/ 1962Underwood 248102 3,030,544 4/1962 Zamboldi 287126 X 3,056,412 10/1962Wolfe 131-172 3,182,942 5/1965 Flanigan 248--107 JOHN PETO, PrimaryExaminer.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR HOLDING A NURSING BOTTLE COMPRISING A KNOCK DOWNSUPPORTING FRAME INCLUDING (A) A PAIR OF DETACHABLE L-SHAPED BASEMEMBERS, EACH HAVING A SOCKET AT THE END OF ONE OF THE LEGS, (B) A PAIROF L-SHAPED BRIDGE MEMBERS, THE ENDS OF SAID BRIDGE MEMBERS BEINGTAPERED ONE END OF EACH BRIDGE MEMBER BEING RECEIVED WITHIN ACOOPERATING SOCKET OF A BASE MEMBER, (C) A BRIDGE BUSHING HAVINGCAVITIES FOR RECEIVING THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID BRIDGE MEMBERS, SAIDBUSHING BEING ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BRIDGE MEMBERS, (D) ANADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING ARM SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BUSHINGAND MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BRIDGE MEMBERS, AND (E) A FLEXIBLEBOTTLE SUPPORTING CLAMP MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID SUPPORTING ARM.